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Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

$5.50

Drought-hardy, nitrogen-fixing perennial in the Fabaceae/Luguminosae family, also known as Lucerne. Alfalfa partially resembles clover, also having trifoliate leaves, although they are elongated rather than round. It has clusters of small lilac-purple flowers followed by spiral seed pods. Alfalfa is native to warm temperate climates and grows to around one metre high. Its roots can grow to up to 15 metres deep in search of water although typically the subsoil will limit this depth to perhaps 2-3 metres.

9cm pot

Cultivation

Does best in full sun on well-drained soil. The nitrogen fixing bacteria which work in association with the roots prefer a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Plants are frost hardy to around minus 3 degrees C.

Uses

Alfalfa is one of the oldest cultivated plants, and is a highly nutritious food for humans, being rich in vitamins A, B, C and K. It has also been cultivated as livestock fodder for over 2000 years, primarily for dairy cows, because of its high protein content and highly digestible fibre, but also for beef cattle, horses, sheep, goats, meat rabbits and poultry. It is generally fed as hay or silage.

Alfalfa seeds can be sprouted to use in salads but may contain microbiological pathogens; caution is advised.

Alfalfa makes a great companion plant in the garden, orchard or food forest due to its nitrogen fixing abilities. In fact it makes more residual nitrogen available to other crops than any other legume. The flowers are also attractive to bees.

Medicinal Uses

Alfalfa has been used to treat many ailments in traditional folk medicine worldwide over the centuries, some of which have been validated by scientific investigation more recently. In China it has been used as an appetite stimulant and to treat digestive disorders, especially ulcers. Ayurvedic medicine also uses alfalfa as a remedy for ulcers, as well as to relieve arthritis pain and as a treatment for fluid retention. Early American herbalists also used the herb as a treatment for arthritis, boils, cancer, scurvy, and for diseases of the urinary and digestive systems. Pioneer women used it for menstrual issues.

Alfalfa contains phytoestrogens, and modern herbalists use it to treat hormonal imbalances in women and disorders such as hot flushes, fibrocystic breasts, osteoporosis, polycystic ovaries, fibroids and premenstrual tension.

Primary Actions: Choleretic, Hypolipidemic, Nutritive, Uterine tonic

Parts Used: Leaves, stems, roots, flowers and seeds

Energetics: Cooling, Toning, Moistening

History / Folklore / Further Info

The name alfalfa is thought to be from the Arabic al-fac-facah, meaning ‘father of all foods’, or from ancient Iranian an aspo-asti – ‘the best feed’ or ‘feed for horses’.

Alfalfa cultivation is discussed in the fourth-century AD book Opus Agriculturae by Palladius, stating: “One sow-down lasts ten years. The crop may be cut four or six times a year … A jugerum (0.62 acre) of it is abundantly sufficient for three horses all the year … It may be given to cattle, but new provender is at first to be administered very sparingly, because it bloats up the cattle.”

Jo Says

Discounts for bulk orders of small grades 7cm pot, minimum of 30 plants, grown to order. Please email me for details.

Shipping Advice

N.B. Shipping costs are added AFTER you have placed your order, you will then be emailed an invoice with bank details.

Smallest box rate:
This can fit up to 9 plants in 9cm pots.

Shipping a single tree can be expensive. We may be able to fit more in the box for the same price! See our shipping rates for single and multi tree boxes.

Combining sizes?
No problem, we will work out the best rate for you once you’ve placed your order.

Medical disclaimer

Jo has a passion for growing herbs but is not a qualified herbalist and has no medical background.

We are lucky to have Patricia Beagle working here at times, who is qualified, and some of her advice does appear on these pages, but herbs act differently for different people and can interact with other medicines. We therefore always recommend that you consult with your own qualified health-care practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medications.

Kahikatea Farm cannot take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants or a plant not having the effect it is reputed to have.